Sandel - Hazlett Family Tree: Notes - January Family
This information is amazing. I'm wondering how you know that Samuel P. January is the son of Samuel A. January and Pamelia January. I suspect that he is as well, but I can't find any information to prove it. Can you help me? My name is Emily January Petersen and my email is januarypetersen@yahoo.com. Thanks!
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Sunday, May 3, 2009
So Long and Thanks For All the Fish!
So, I don't know if anyone will even read this blog again, but I wanted to write a post and tell you all thanks for all your help and ideas and support. This has been a crazy year--for all of us--and I'm positive I wouldn't have survived if I hadn't had you guys (Dr. Rogers included!) to fall back on for questions and comeraderie and commiseration! Thanks again!! And good luck Tamar--we'll miss you next year!
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Now that I am wise and all-knowing... :)
I'm probably going to sound like I'm just echoing what the rest of you have said, but I agree with so much of what you've written.
I wish I had been less timid and apologetic at the beginning of the semester. This is always the case with new situations--I want to glide in and do everything confidently and smoothly, but I usually start out shaking in my shoes. I was sure they would see through me and know what a fraud I was, but they didn't! (Or at least if they did, they never called my bluff).
I also wish I had agonized less about grading those first few reading responses--I pulled a couple of all-nighters to get them done because I was trying to be so thorough. It was a learning experience, though, so in a way I don't regret the time spent.
I also wish I had known better how to guide class discussion in a way that made them think more critically about the reading material. I definitely got better at that as the class went on.
I wish I had known how many I would "lose"--like you guys, I was shocked at how many people just stopped coming to class, or stopped turning things in, or didn't take advantage of opportunities to make things up. Somehow I thought they would all pull it together in the end.
I wish I could go back and teach some things more thoroughly, and not stress so much about others.
Finally, I wish I had known that some people were actually *enjoying* the class--I felt that they were all muttering under their breath about things I was asking them to do, but many of them actually appreciated learning the things they did. I had one student come talk to me in the Writing Center yesterday and tell me this was his second time taking 1010, and that this time around he learned all the things he wished he had learned the first time. Another student gave me a hug and told me she appreciated the time I had spent with her outside of class, and that she felt like now she knew how to write this type of paper, where at the beginning of the class she didn't have a clue. These students really made my day (especially after a 7-hour shift of craziness and stress in the Writing Center!).
I wish I had been less timid and apologetic at the beginning of the semester. This is always the case with new situations--I want to glide in and do everything confidently and smoothly, but I usually start out shaking in my shoes. I was sure they would see through me and know what a fraud I was, but they didn't! (Or at least if they did, they never called my bluff).
I also wish I had agonized less about grading those first few reading responses--I pulled a couple of all-nighters to get them done because I was trying to be so thorough. It was a learning experience, though, so in a way I don't regret the time spent.
I also wish I had known better how to guide class discussion in a way that made them think more critically about the reading material. I definitely got better at that as the class went on.
I wish I had known how many I would "lose"--like you guys, I was shocked at how many people just stopped coming to class, or stopped turning things in, or didn't take advantage of opportunities to make things up. Somehow I thought they would all pull it together in the end.
I wish I could go back and teach some things more thoroughly, and not stress so much about others.
Finally, I wish I had known that some people were actually *enjoying* the class--I felt that they were all muttering under their breath about things I was asking them to do, but many of them actually appreciated learning the things they did. I had one student come talk to me in the Writing Center yesterday and tell me this was his second time taking 1010, and that this time around he learned all the things he wished he had learned the first time. Another student gave me a hug and told me she appreciated the time I had spent with her outside of class, and that she felt like now she knew how to write this type of paper, where at the beginning of the class she didn't have a clue. These students really made my day (especially after a 7-hour shift of craziness and stress in the Writing Center!).
Sunday, April 26, 2009
I Wish I Had Known Everything
I wish I had known everything I know now! One of the most confusing experiences at the beginning of the semester was not knowing what I was teaching and why. I did not have the readings done. I did not have the benefit of discussing the readings. I did not know why I was reading and discussing with my students. Maybe I'm a little slow, but the first few weeks I wondered how what we were doing in class would translate into composition.
Of course, I know now that we were reading so the students would have topics to write about. I also know we were discussing to help the students make connections and to think critically about texts. I also know that the classroom interaction was important for them to be able to get comfortable, with me and each other. Now that I have a semester behind me, I have the benefit of seeing how all of the parts of the class fit together as a whole. If I had known that a few months ago, I would have been more confident and less confused!
I also wish I had known how hard it would be to say goodbye to all of my students. When we first met, I was terrified of them and they were terrified of me. Now, we are old friends and I find that the end of the semester is going to be bittersweet. Of course, we all want a break, but the possibility of never seeing any of these kids again breaks my heart.
It has been eye-opening to realize that some of my students do not care. I assumed, even a few weeks ago, that if I cared enough about them and their attendance and their progress that they would then show up for class prepared. I still have a few who come to class to see what is going on, and when it doesn't suit them, they "sneak" out when they think I'm not looking. I wish I had known that their behavior is normal and unchangeable. However, if I had known, I might not have tried so hard with them. Maybe it is a good thing to have high expecations and hopes for students so we can always be willing to help them succeed. I hope my realization that some of the students will hang themselves no matter what does not make me too cynical when it comes to giving everybody a chance to succeed.
Of course, I know now that we were reading so the students would have topics to write about. I also know we were discussing to help the students make connections and to think critically about texts. I also know that the classroom interaction was important for them to be able to get comfortable, with me and each other. Now that I have a semester behind me, I have the benefit of seeing how all of the parts of the class fit together as a whole. If I had known that a few months ago, I would have been more confident and less confused!
I also wish I had known how hard it would be to say goodbye to all of my students. When we first met, I was terrified of them and they were terrified of me. Now, we are old friends and I find that the end of the semester is going to be bittersweet. Of course, we all want a break, but the possibility of never seeing any of these kids again breaks my heart.
It has been eye-opening to realize that some of my students do not care. I assumed, even a few weeks ago, that if I cared enough about them and their attendance and their progress that they would then show up for class prepared. I still have a few who come to class to see what is going on, and when it doesn't suit them, they "sneak" out when they think I'm not looking. I wish I had known that their behavior is normal and unchangeable. However, if I had known, I might not have tried so hard with them. Maybe it is a good thing to have high expecations and hopes for students so we can always be willing to help them succeed. I hope my realization that some of the students will hang themselves no matter what does not make me too cynical when it comes to giving everybody a chance to succeed.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
A Wish List
I totally agree with Tamar. You can't force students to do anything. (Let's force them to drink--they're containers, right?) I had the hardest time understanding that they didn't really care about their grades like I do, and didn't worry about attending class every day. It baffled me when they didn't take advantage of the extra credit or the re-write options that would have saved some of them.
I wish I had known "they are not me" before I ever walked into the classroom. It would have saved me a lot of stress and frustration on the first assignment. I thought their grades would hit them like an atomic bomb; they barely blinked.
I wish I had known that I couldn't save them all. (I honestly tried!)
I wish I had known better than to give them an inch. They certainly have an instinct for that sort of thing.
I wish I had known that Word 07 has an automatic works cited building function--I wouldn't have wasted an entire day constructing one by hand in class. (It was fun, though).
I wish I had known who owned that nasty water bottle I almost put my lips on.
I wish I had been confident enough to walk in there and "own it" every single day. Sometimes I stumbled, staggered, or choked on my gum. There were days when I felt apologetic. Now I know better.
I wish I'd had a ready plan for how to direct them toward each assignment.
I wish I had known how to operate the overhead, screen, and computer with grace and effortless finesse.
Better luck next time. What an experience! I've loved it, and will really miss these students. (Hey, with half of them failing, I might see one or two again, right?) I have a whole list of things I will do differently next time around. We survived! Here's to a fabulous--and confident--second semester of teaching. Wooo!
I wish I had known "they are not me" before I ever walked into the classroom. It would have saved me a lot of stress and frustration on the first assignment. I thought their grades would hit them like an atomic bomb; they barely blinked.
I wish I had known that I couldn't save them all. (I honestly tried!)
I wish I had known better than to give them an inch. They certainly have an instinct for that sort of thing.
I wish I had known that Word 07 has an automatic works cited building function--I wouldn't have wasted an entire day constructing one by hand in class. (It was fun, though).
I wish I had known who owned that nasty water bottle I almost put my lips on.
I wish I had been confident enough to walk in there and "own it" every single day. Sometimes I stumbled, staggered, or choked on my gum. There were days when I felt apologetic. Now I know better.
I wish I'd had a ready plan for how to direct them toward each assignment.
I wish I had known how to operate the overhead, screen, and computer with grace and effortless finesse.
Better luck next time. What an experience! I've loved it, and will really miss these students. (Hey, with half of them failing, I might see one or two again, right?) I have a whole list of things I will do differently next time around. We survived! Here's to a fabulous--and confident--second semester of teaching. Wooo!
You Can't Make Them Drink
I know we were told over and over that the students are not like us and that you can lead them to water but you can't make them drink, but I didn't really understand what that meant until now. I'm not sure how you help teachers to understand that concept, but I wish I could have understood my students a little bit better. I kept wondering if my teaching was the problem, or if I had a bad crop of students, but neither of those things seem to be the case. Finally, at the end of the class, just today I really felt like we were connecting. It's too bad it was my last class and there wasn't much left to say. Even though it was the last day I was still shocked. One of my students who I was sure would show up today and turn in his paper didn't turn it in. I have two students who are close to passing but for some reason just didn't do the last paper. It makes me sad, and still shocks me. I'm not sure I will ever get over their lack of caring.
These are the things I will do differently next time in no particular order:
-Smile more. It was a rough semester and there were tired days. I need to learn how to fake through the tired.
-Steal from Emily and connect with my students through the things they enjoy
-Don't let them get to me. It's their choice not to show up and not to do the work.
-Find some more visual/teaching aids that go along with the essays we read. I didn't do a lot of images with Cinderella or advertising and I think it would make it more interesting for those units
-The class was a lot of discussion which worked sometimes. I would like to see if there are pieces where I could lecture a little and pull in resources from the outside that might spark their interest
-Give them due dates for reading responses. I'm not sure the lack of structure worked in their favor. I can't decide if it hindered them and they forgot about the reading responses or if they would have still failed to turn them in if there were due dates.
That's all I can think of right now. I'm sure more will pop up when I prep for this class next time. Here's for the first semester of teaching being completed (except for the pile of essays to grade). Woohoo!
These are the things I will do differently next time in no particular order:
-Smile more. It was a rough semester and there were tired days. I need to learn how to fake through the tired.
-Steal from Emily and connect with my students through the things they enjoy
-Don't let them get to me. It's their choice not to show up and not to do the work.
-Find some more visual/teaching aids that go along with the essays we read. I didn't do a lot of images with Cinderella or advertising and I think it would make it more interesting for those units
-The class was a lot of discussion which worked sometimes. I would like to see if there are pieces where I could lecture a little and pull in resources from the outside that might spark their interest
-Give them due dates for reading responses. I'm not sure the lack of structure worked in their favor. I can't decide if it hindered them and they forgot about the reading responses or if they would have still failed to turn them in if there were due dates.
That's all I can think of right now. I'm sure more will pop up when I prep for this class next time. Here's for the first semester of teaching being completed (except for the pile of essays to grade). Woohoo!
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
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